Harzand not among St Leger 42

The name of dual Derby hero Harzand was missing from the 42 entries revealed on Wednesday for the Ladbrokes St Leger.

The world’s oldest Classic will be run on Saturday, September 10 at Doncaster, with this year’s renewal attracting a marked increase from the number of entries from last year’s lowly total of 29.

Boasting record total prize money of £700,000, up £50,000 from last year, the Ladbrokes St Leger takes place over one mile, six furlongs and 132 yards.

Ireland’s champion Flat trainer Aidan O’Brien is seeking his fifth Ladbrokes St Leger success and has a total of 16 entries, the most of any trainer. The Ballydoyle contingent includes Investec Derby second US Army Ranger and Idaho, third at Epsom before going on to fill the runner-up position in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Also among the Ballydoyle hopefuls is Sword Fighter, who has already proved his stamina by landing both the two-mile Listed Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and the Curragh Cup over a mile and three quarters. Bhutan, a Galileo colt who was impressive when beating stable-companion Housesofparliament by three lengths on his only start in a 10-furlong Leopardstown maiden on heavy ground in April, is another O’Brien-trained entry.

O’Brien captured an early trial for the Ladbrokes St Leger when Housesofparliament was successful in the 13-furlong Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket earlier this month, in which Harrison was third and Harbour View fourth.

There could also be a first British Classic runner for O’Brien’s son Joseph, who is in his rookie season as a trainer. O’Brien junior, who won the Ladbrokes St Leger as a jockey on Leading Light in 2013, has entered recent 14-furlong …

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